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DSS: Tukur Mamu Took ₦50m Share of Train Attack Ransom
A Department of State Service (DSS) investigator on Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Tukur Mamu, the alleged negotiator for the terrorists who attacked the Abuja–Kaduna train in March 2022, received a ₦50 million share of ransom from the group’s leader.
Testifying before Justice Mohammed Umar, the operative, the sixth prosecution witness, said audio recordings extracted from Mamu’s mobile devices revealed conversations between the defendant and the terrorists who held passengers hostage.
According to the investigator, the voice notes included a message from the terrorists’ leader, known as Shugaba, thanking Mamu for his role in facilitating ransom payments and instructing him to “remove ₦50 million for personal use” from a tranche of money delivered to the group.
The witness said the terrorists also asked Mamu to help them procure speakers and a public address system for their preaching activities and to teach them how to create a website for their operations.
₦300,000, Vehicles Seized
The SSS operative told the court that Mamu was arrested in Egypt and repatriated to Nigeria. Before his arrest, he allegedly called his in-law, identified as Mubarak Tinja, and directed him to move cash, vehicles and other valuables from his Kaduna home to avoid detection.
A search conducted on his property after his return to Nigeria led to the recovery of about $300,000, as well as several vehicles including a Toyota Camry (Muscle), Peugeot 5008, Lexus, Mercedes E350, and a Hyundai.
The items were recovered from different locations after investigators traced them following Mamu’s alleged instructions to relatives.
Digital Evidence Admitted
The witness stated that Mamu voluntarily handed his Samsung tablet and two mobile phones to investigators, and the devices were sent for forensic analysis. The extracted voice notes were later played in court.
He added that during interrogation, Mamu admitted directing his in-law to move his valuables and acknowledged communicating with the terrorists through voice notes. He also confirmed ownership of a pump-action gun recovered from his home, though investigators later found that its licence had expired in December 2021.
Victims Decline to Testify
The court also admitted written statements from two victims of the train attack who declined to appear in person due to trauma and fear. Their statements one in English, one in Hausa were tendered without objection from the defence.
Eight statements made by Mamu to investigators and video recordings of his interrogation sessions were also admitted in evidence.
Prosecution counsel David Kaswe informed the court that he would file an application for the court to inspect the recovered items.
Justice Umar adjourned the case to November 26 at 11:00 a.m. for continuation of trial.
(NAN)
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